Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday sought to term the Congress and the BSP as equal enemies, though skirting the issue of withdrawing support to the UPA government indicating that ousting Mayawati from UP was first on his agenda.

Speaking on the first day of the party’s “special” national conference here, Yadav made it clear that there was no love lost between the SP and the Congress as he charged the Centre of shielding UP Chief Minister Mayawati in corruption cases. Though he cautioned the Centre to “mend ways or face consequences”, asked whether the issue of withdrawal of support was on the agenda of the conference, Mulayam said the remark “was uncalled for” and left.

He also announced a “jail bharo” agitation to dislodge the Mayawati government, saying it will achieve the twin purpose of “ousting the UP government and shake the Centre”. Asserting the seriousness of the agitation, Yadav declared: “The agitation will not be symbolic. We will go to jail. I will court arrest in Lucknow and list will be drawn up as to who will court arrest where.” He said programme dates would be announced soon.

Mulayam raised the issues of price rise, drought and foreign policy to attack Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Yadav accused Singh of giving impetus to price rise, surrendering before Pakistan through the Sharm-el-Sheikh joint statement and declared, “Dilli ki sarkar sudhre ya bahar jaaye” (The government should mend its ways or leave). He declared that his party will launch an agitation and take the issue before the masses.

... contd.